Suction cleaner



Nov. 4, 1941. D. e. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER F'iled Dec. 51, 1937 3 sheet 1 ald INVENTOR ell ATT Nov. 4, 1941.

D. G. SMELLIE.

SUCTION CLEANER s Sheets-She et 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1937 fig. a

Doizald! 82;}???

ATTORNEY Nov. 4,1941. D. G. sMELLI; 2,261,781

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Dec. 31, 195'? vs sheets-sheet s 30 E mvsm-on v a g Donald G. Jmellzb ii} 13 20 W AILTORNEY suction cleaners.

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 SUCTION CLEANER Donald G. Smellie, Canton, Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application December 31, 1937, Serial No. 182,689

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general and particularly to new and novel improvements in suction cleaner agitators. More particularly the invention comprises a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner in which the brushes are radially adjustable to compensate for wear.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved rotary agitator for It is another object of the invention to provide a rotary agitator for suction cleaners embodying adjustable brushes. A still further object of the invention is to provide a suction clean'er agitator formed with brush seats in which the brush elements are radially adjustable to compensate for brush wear. Still another object of the invention is to provide a rotary agitator for suction cleaners in which the agitating element subjected to wear is adapted to be seated in a plurality of positions, removal and insertion therefrom and therein being accomplished' by the longitudinal sliding of the brush element;

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a suction cleaner embodying the present invention with certain parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the rotary agitator embodying the present invention;

Figure 3 is a section upon the line 3--3 of Figure 2 and illustrates the brush in the "new brus position; I

Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 3 and shows the brush in the wom brush" position;

- Figure 5 is a partial longitudinal section through the agitator in a plane which extends helically with the brush seat;

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the removablehelical brush unit;

Figure 7 is a view in perspective of the closure plate at one end of the brush unit of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an elevation of the brush-contactin spri Figure 9 is an end elevation of a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 is a partial side elevation of the agitator constructed in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention;

' Figure 11 is a longitudinal section in the agitator along the center line of the helical brush;

Figure 12 is a transverse section upon the line l2-l2 of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a partial longitudinal section through the agitator of the second embodiment with. the thread guard and other parts arranged for brush removal and insertion.

The modern suction cleanerembodies air-- moving means and surface agitating means, The surface agitating means normally comprise a rotating agitator embodying rigid beating elements and flexible brush elements. The latter are subjected to wear in use as a result of which their effective extension from the axis of agitator rotation decreases making replacement or adjustment necessary. In the agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention new, novel and simplified means are provided by which the brush can be adjusted.-

In the drawings, and in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive in particular, the first preferred embodiment of the invention'is disclosed. In Figure 1 a modern suction cleaner is illustrated and is seen to comprise a nozzle 1 having surface-contacting lips 2 and 3 which define its mouth. An air passageway 4 interiorly connects the nozzle to the eye 5 of a fan chamber 6 within which is positioned a rotating suction-creating fan 1 mounted upon the extended lower end of a motor shaft 8. An unshown motor positioned within the motor casing 9 immediately over fan chamber 6 drives the suction-creating fan causing it to draw air into the nozzle between the lips 2 and 3 into the fan chamber, and to exhaust it therefrom by the exhaust outlet 10 into a removable. dust bag ll. Within the nozzle 1 removably mounted in a suitable manner is a rotary agitator M which is rotated by a powertransmitting belt 15 and which extends through the passageway 4 to a pulley l6 formed upon the lower end of shaft 8. The entire cleaner is movably supported by front wheels 11 and rear wheels'lB, and there is provided a handle, the lower pivoted end of which is indicated at l9, by which the operator may exert a propelling force to move the cleaner upon the surface coil-'- ering undergoing cleaning.

The agitator It comprises a hollow cylindrical body 20 formed centrally with a pulley groove 2| and with helically extending brush channels 22, 22.. Positioned upon the surface of body 20 are helically extended rigid smooth metallic beater elements 24, 25, the brush and beating elements cooperating to dislodge the foreign matter from a surface covering in the rotation of the agitator.

At each end of body 20 the agitator is provided with an end plate 26 which is circumferentially flanged to seat in body 20 in permanent relationship and which is centrally bored to form a bearing seat within which is positioned a ball bearing 21. A through-supporting shaft 28 extends the length of the body 20 and beyond the ends thereof and is rotatably mounted adjacent its ends within the bearings 21. Each bearing 21 .is fixedly positioned within its seat in the end plate 26, and end shoulders 29 upon the shaft 28 prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft in the bearings. The extended end of shaft 28 is threaded for a portion of its length immediately adjacent the bearing and a removable thread guard 38 which overhangs the end of the agitator body and end plate, seats thereon in screw threaded relationship.

Within each helical brush recess 22, the sides of which are formed by the intumed edges of the agitator body 28, is positioned a removable brush unit. Each unit comprises, as is clearly seen in Figure 6, a brush 45 seated in an elongated hollow body 34 of metal which, in section, is square or. rectangular, and which is open at one. side with the exception of slightly overhanging shoulders 35 from whichextend the outwardly flaring supporting flanges 38, 36. The entire unit is so shaped that'it can be positioned within the recess 22 of the agitator body 28 with the flanges 36, 36 in contact with the side walls thereof in which position engagement is maintained by removable screws 31, 31 etc.

One end of each brush seat'34 is closed by a fixed end plate 38, the other end remaining open. Within the seat 34 and fixedly positioned, as by welding, is a U-ehannel 48 which opens upwardly and is formed with inturned shoulders 4|, 4| along its top for a purpose which will be fully' explained. A leaf spring 42 which extends parallel to the body 34, is fixedly secured thereto by being secured to the bottom of the channel 48. The outer ends of'the spring are adapted to exert an outwardly directed radial force.

The brush 45 positioned within each seat 34 extends helically as does its rigid back 46. The brush back 46 is formed on its sides with spaced pairs of shoulders 41, 41 and 48, 48. Shoulders 41, 41 are upon opposite sides of the back and at a greater height thereon than shoulders 48, 48

' which are also upon opposite sides of the back.

In the position illustrated in Figure 3 the upper pair of shoulders 41, 41 are seen to underlie the brush seat shoulders 4|, 4| against which they are held by the action of the leaf spring 42.

The distance separating the pairs of shoulders 41, t1 and", 48 is sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the seat shoulders 4|, 4| and,

' as is clearly illustrated in Figure 4, the brush is adapted to be'repositioned within the seat so that the inner shoulders 48, 48 lie under the brush seat shoulder 4| where they are held in place by the spring 42.

To permit of the adjustment of the brush in its seat in this first embodiment of the invention it is necessary to remove the brush unit from the agitator body by first removing the screws 31, 31. The brush unit is then withdrawn and the brush 45 is drawn longitudinally from the open end of the seat and from under the overlying shoulders 4| which have contacted the upper shoulders 41, 41 on the brush back. Upon being completely removed the brush is reinserted longitudinally into the seat in its: second or "worn brus position, as illustrated in Figure 4, in which the lower pair of back shoulders 48, 48 underlie the seat shoulders 4 I, 4|. In the second position the brush back and bristles are at a greater radius from the axis of the agitator so that with decreased bristle length the same radial extension is obtained. It is to be understood, of course, that the shoulders 41, .48 and 4| may extend for the full length of the brush seat and brush back or may comprise only shoulder sections at spaced intervals therealong.

Referring now toFigures 9 to 13, inclusive, the

to reposition the brush. This is made possible by forming the seat fixedly within the agitator I body and by providing movable end members on the agitator as is hereinafter fully set forth.

In this second embodiment of the invention the agitator body 28 and the end plates 26, 26 are rotatably supported on the shaft 28 by bearings 21, 21 as in the first embodiment. A brush seat 58 is provided which is shaped as the brush seat 34 of the first embodiment and differs therefrom in that it is formed integrally in and as a part of the body 28, the securing screws 31, 31 being eliminated. A U-channel member 5| functions in this embodiment in the manner of member 48 in the first embodiment, and the inner end of each brush seat is closed by an end plate 52.

. Each helical brush seat 58 has its outer end adjacent an end plate 26 and in this embodiment of the invention that element is formed with a' the supporting bearing 21 to be pivoted upon pins 51, 51 carried by suitable inwardly extending lugs 58, 58 on the interior surface of the peripheral flange of end plate 26. The upwardly extending ends of leaf springs 59, 56 normally retain the closure plate 54 in its seat-closing position but permit the bracket and plate to be pivoted outwardly about the pins 51, 51.

The thread guard 38 is, according to this embodiment, modifiedby the provision of a pivotally mounted sector 68 which is carried by pivot pins 6|, 6| on the periphery of the main body of the guard which is screw threaded on the shaft 28. Section 68 with the guard in place on the shaft normally covers that part of the agitator end which includes the pivotally mounted closure plate 54 and is retained in this'radial position through the cooperation of smooth rounded protuberances 62, 62 and conforming depressions 68, 63 on the main portion and on the pivotal section of the thread guard, respectively.

Within each brush seat is positioned, exactly in the same manner as in the first embodiment a helical brush 45. The'brush back 46 is formed with side shoulders 41 and 48 which selectively cooperate with the seat shoulders 4|, 4| in the manner of the first embodiment, the seat being provided with the leaf spring 42 as in the first embodiment.

Assuming that the agitator is new and the brush bristles are of maximum length, the brush would be positioned within the agitator in the relative position illustrated in Figure 3 for the first embodiment that is; the shoulders 41, 41 would underlie the seat shoulders 4|, 4|. Upon becoming worn, however, the brush bristle length decreases and it is then necessary to move the seat is pivoted outwardly against the retaining resilient force exerted by the leaf springs 59, 59 leaving entirely uncovered the end of .the brush seat 59. The brush can then be withdrawn longitudinally from the agitator in the manner illustrated in Figure 13 and can be reinserted in retaining construction is the same for both ends.

I claim:

l. A suction cleaner agitator comprising a rotary body, an elongated brush seat on said body having an open side and an open end, an elongated brush in said seat having bristles extended through said open side and longitudinally displaceable therefrom through said open end, and non-adjustable means in said seat to support said brush at a plurality of heights therein and to prevent its displacement through said ope side.

' 2. A suction cleaner agitator comprising a rotary body, an elongated brush seat rotatable with said body having an open side and an open end, an elongated brush in said seat longitudinally displaceable therefrom through-said open end and comprising a rigid back and bristles carried thereby which extend through said open side,

and cooperating shoulders upon said seat and said back selectively engageable as said brush is moved a radially displaceable brush seat in said body having interior shoulders and one open end, manually operable means securing said seat to said body, a brush'comprising a rigid back and bristles extended therefrom, said back being of a size to slide into said seat through its one open end with the bristles extending from the side of said sat. said back also being formed with shoulders at difierent heights thereon to cooperate selectively with the shoulders in said seat as said brush is inserted through said one end to position said brush at various heights, and spring means to longitudinally into said seat through said open end to position said back at a plurality of heights in said seat.

' 3. In a suction cleaner agitator having a rotary body, an elongated brush seat on said body having an open side and an open end, an elongated brush in said seat longitudinally displaceable therefrom through said open end, said brush including a rigid back with vertically spaced shoulders on its sides and with bristles extending therefrom and through said open side, and cooperating shoulders on said seat adapted to be selectively contacted by the shoulders on said back as said back is inserted through said open end to position said brush at various heights in said seat and to prevent its displacement through said open side.

4. In a suction cleaner agitator having a rotary body, an elongated brush seat having an open side and an open end, an elongated brush in said seat longitudinally displaceable there-- from through said open end and having bristles extended through said open side, means in said 'seat to limit the outward radial movement of a brush seated therein, and a plurality of means on said brush adapted to cooperateselectively with the mean'srin said seat as said brush is inserted through said open end to position said brush at a plurality of heights.

5. In a suction cleaner agitator, a rotary body, a helical brush seat removable radially from said body'and including brush-positioning means, said seat being formed with an open end, a helical brush including a rigid back positioned in said seat and including a plurality of means to cooperate selectively with the brush-positioning means of said seat to determine the radial .exl tension ofsaid brush.

6. In a suction cleaner. agitator, a rotary body,

maintain the engagement of said shoulders.

7. In a suction cleaner rotary agitator, a body, an elongated helical brush seat in said body extendedv to the end thereof, a helical brush in said seat slidable therefrom at the end of said body,

and cooperating means on said brush and in said seat to position said brush selectively at various heightsin said seat.

8. In a suction cleaner rotary agitator, a body, an elongated brush seat in said body extended to and open at the end thereof, a brush-positioning shoulder in saidseat, an elongated brush including a rigid back formed with shoulders at a plurality of heights thereon which are adapted selectively to seat on the seat shoulder to position said brush at various heights as said brush is slid endwise into said seat, and a manually displaceable closure normallyclosing the end of said brush seat. 9. In a suction cleaner agitator, a rotatable hollow body, an elongated longitudinally extending brush seat in said body open at the end thereof, a stationary thread guard adjacent the end of said body andincluding a displaceable sector which displaced gives access tothe open end of said brush seat.

10. In a suction cleaner agitator, a rotatablehollow body, an elongated longitudinally extend- I ing brush seat in said body open at the end thereof, a stationary thread guard adjacent and en-.

closing the end of said body, said guard including a pivoted section adapted to be moved to an axially-extending position to uncover the end of said body to permit access to'said brush seat.

11. In a suction cleaner 'agitator, a rotatable hollow body, an elongated longitudinally extending brush seat in said body open at the end thereof, a pivoted closure for the open end of said seat on the end of said body, a stationary thread guard adjacent the end of said body and including a displaceable sector which displaced gives access to the end of said brushseat, and which permits said pivoted closure to be moved to seatopening position.

12. In a suction cleaner agitator, a rotary body,

, a radially displaceable helical brush seat in said of a size to slide into said seat through its one shoulders.

open end with the bristles 'extending'from the side of said seat, said back also being formed with shoulders at different heights thereon to cooperate selectively with the shoulders in said seat as said brush isinserted through said one end to position said brush at various heights, and spring means to maintain the engagement of said DONALD G. SME L-1E. j 

